Chapter 24

Although the virile young Prince of Arimathaea was customarily an early riser in summer, and this was an exceptionally beautiful day, he was finding it difficult this morning to shake off his lethargy and regain full consciousness.

For a long time he sat on the edge of his bed, with a bare foot in one hand and a silk stocking in the other, staring dully out through the open window, unable to proceed with his dressing. He was still under the spell of an extraordinarily vivid dream.

At length he tugged himself loose from his captivity, drew on a robe, and made his way out to the patio, where his pretty sister awaited him at the breakfast-table.

‘Whatever has been keeping you, Joe?’ she inquired. ‘Hassan is in a great dither; says they have been ready to start for an hour.’

‘Start?’ mumbled her bewildered brother. ‘Start where?’

‘Maybe good old Hassan is going crazy—or perhaps you are. I thought it queer that you had said nothing to me about this sudden trip to Jerusalem. But—weren’t you intending to go?’

Now the sleepy Prince came awake with a start. Leaning forward on his elbows he studied his sister’s eyes. Then he slowly rubbed the back of his shaky hand across his forehead and huskily ordered the serving-maid to send for Hassan.

‘This is the most unbelievable thing that ever happened,’ he muttered, half to himself. ‘Tamar, just what did Hassan say?’

‘Here he comes,’ she said. ‘He’ll tell you.’

The dignified steward, tall, greying, dressed for travel, approached the table and stood at attention with anxiety in his eyes.

‘Hassan,’ said the Prince, ‘who told you we were going to Jerusalem?’

The steward’s voice was unsteady as he apologized for his mistake.

‘I am very sorry, sire! I had a most peculiar dream, last night; something more than a dream. It seemed real!’

The Prince impulsively turned his chair about to face his steward directly.

‘Proceed, Hassan,’ he said soberly. ‘Tell me about this dream.’

‘I fear it will sound very foolish, sire. I know you do not believe in dreams.’

‘Don’t be too sure about that!’ said the Prince. ‘Let’s have it!’